Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / Reuters
When news broke on Thursday that former President Donald Trump was criminally indicted in Manhattan, congressional Republicans—as they’ve done countless times before—immediately declared they would leverage their power to defend him.
“I’m directing relevant committees to immediately investigate if federal funds are being used to subvert our democracy,” tweeted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), “by interfering in elections with politically motivated prosecutions.” Days before the indictment, GOP chairmen signaled they would demand the testimony of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Key lawmakers also quickly declared they would retaliate against Democrats. “Hunter Biden: Call your lawyers,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) tweeted after the indictment news broke.